Wilma Tisch
Wilma "Billie" Tisch | |
|---|---|
| Born | Wilma Stein June 25, 1927 Long Branch, New Jersey, U.S. |
| Occupation(s) | Investor, philanthropist |
| Known for | Philanthropy, board member roles |
Wilma "Billie" Tisch (born Stein) is an American investor and philanthropist. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in economics from Skidmore College in 1948, later contributing as a board member and participating in various charitable efforts.
Biography
Tisch was born on June 25, 1927, in Long Branch, New Jersey and grew up in Asbury Park, New Jersey. Her father, Joseph Stein, shifted careers from journalism to establish New Jersey’s inaugural Cadillac dealership. Her mother, Rose Liebesman Stein, descended from Lithuanian Jewish roots. Tisch attended public education institutions before completing her degree in economics with a minor in accounting at Skidmore College.
Following her graduation, she took a secretarial position at Time, Inc and wed Laurence Tisch in 1948. Laurence’s early professional endeavors included managing kosher hotels catering to the Jewish population.
Philanthropy
In 1962, Tisch became a board member of Blythedale Children's Hospital located in Valhalla, New York. By 1969, she was appointed to the Distribution Committee of the Federation of Jewish Philanthropies, where she played a key role in securing funding for Blythedale’s program addressing joint diseases. She led this committee starting in 1975 and made history as the Federation’s first female president from 1980 to 1983.
Her extensive leadership portfolio includes serving as chairwoman of the WNYC Foundation, Vice Chairman of United Way of New York City, director of the Tisch Foundation, trustee positions at Skidmore College, the American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee, and the September 11th Fund. Additionally, she participated on the Mayor’s Transition Advisory Council for New York City.
Among her accolades are the Louis Marshall Medal awarded by the Jewish Theological Seminary in 1976 for her commitment to Judaism and an honorary doctorate from New York University granted in 2006 acknowledging her philanthropic leadership.
Personal life
In 1948, Tisch married Laurence Tisch, who was involved in real estate development. Together they had four sons:
- Andrew H. Tisch (born 1949)
- Daniel Tisch – oversees the family investment vehicle Mentor Partners, engages actively in Jewish philanthropy, and holds a position on the board of New York University. He is also the father of David Tisch.
- James S. Tisch (born 1953) – father to Jessica Tisch.
- Thomas Jonah Tisch – partner at FLF Associates, a private investment firm based in New York City; he wed Helen Vivian Scovell in 1985.
Net worth
Forbes estimated her net worth at approximately US$1.4 billion as of April 2023.